Machine for treating filaments.



J. WLHOWELL. MACHINE FOR TREATING FILAMENTS. nrmouxon FILED 0011.17, 1903. RENEWED APR. 3, 190a.

1,010,914. I Patented Dec.5, 1911.

3 SHEBTBSHEET 1. F19. I.

JohnWHoweH.

J. W. HOWELL.

MACHINE FOR TREATING FILAMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED 00117, 190a. RENEWED APR. 3, 190a.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Im Q LT Wifiwsms.

n W. Howe?! I. M A1113,

K. J. W. HOWELL.

mourn FOR TREATING FILAMENTS.

APIfLIOATION FILED (1075.17, 1903. RENEWED APR. 3, 1908. 1,010,914, Patented Dec.5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Fig. IO.

\'\ i'lfnssses. Inverflior TINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HOWELL, F NEWARK NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION NEW YORK. i

MACHINE FOR TREATING FILAMENTS Specification 01' Letters Patent. I

To all-whom 'it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JOHN W. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey,

ahave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Treating Filaments, of which the following isa speclfication.

This invention relates to machines for 1o treating filaments for incandescent lamps by depositmg graphitic carbon upon the filament to give 1t the desired resistance and make the resistance uniform at all points along its length. For this purpose the filament is supported in an air-tight receptacle or bottle with its ends held in metallic clips by which it is connected in an electric circuit and when the air has been withdrawn from the receptacle, a hydrocarbon or other carbonaceous vapor is admitted and the filament is brought up to incandescence. The carbon in the vapor is thus precipitated on the surface of thefilament, building it up and increasing its current carrying capacity at all points but more rapidly at the weaker points which being of greater resistance are brought to a higher temperature by the current and thus precipitate more of the carbon. until its resistance is practically uniform throughout its length and then, as the deposition of the carbon continues, the resistance of the filament is steadily and uniformly decreased. In the machines which have been constructed heretofore for treating filaments in this manner, the valves for connecting and disconnecting the pumps by which the treating bottles are exhausted of air, and the valves by which the treating bottles are con- 40 nected with and disconnected from the source of hydrocarbon vapor supply, have been operated manually. Operating all of the valves and switches for each filament consumes a large portion of the operators time and materially limits the number of filaments that can be treated in a given time on the machine. In addition to this, the conditions, in the bottle, as to vacuum and hydrocarbon vapor being determined by the operator for each filament and being dependent upon the faithfulness and skill of the operator, are apt to vary considerably. One object of this invention is to provide a machine in which the circuit connections and the connections between the treating In this Way the filament is built up Application filed October 17, 1903, Serial No. 177,434. Renewed April 3, 1808. Serial No. 424,931.

bottle and the pump and va or su l are made and broken automatically. Tlig t reat- Ing bottle 1s therefore properly connected to the pump, and 1s. connected to the vapor supply the same length of time in every case, givmg the same conditions of vacuum and vapor density for each filament and thus making the treated filaments far more uniform. Moreover the operator is relieved of numerous duties so that a much greater num- Iper of filaments can be treated in-a given ime.

The presence of a supply of hydrocarbon flu 1d on the filament treating machines used PI'IOI to this invention has always been an element of danger.

Another'object of this invention is to reduce this danger to a minimum. This is done by providing a supply apparatus, distant from the treating machine and carefully protected, in which the hydrocarbon is stored and from which it is drawn as needed into the treating bottle or bottles of one or any number of machines. Means are also provided for insuring a uniform charge of vapor being admittedto each of the treating bottles each time. After the bottle'has been. exhausted of air, the automaticallyoperated valves disconnect it from the pumps and connect it directly with the va or sup ply tank through a small opening 0 definite size. As the pressure of the vapor is malntained constant and as the length of time that the bottle is connectedto the supply tank is the same in every case, the charge of vapor which passes into the treating bottle, on which the quality of the work depends largely, is always the same. In the preferred form of the invention, however, a measure is employed for measuring out the charge or dose of vapor which is admitted to the treating bottle instead of depending on the time elapsing between the opening and closing of the valves for uniformity of the charge. With this construction a vessel of definite size, usually termed a doser, is interposed between the supply tank and the treating bottles and is connected by valves with one and then the other alternately. As the bottles are exhausted of air prior to being Patented Dec. 5, 1911. A

connected to the closer, the vacuum draws the vapor is actually measured out and the measure full, a definite amount, put in the treatin bottle each time.

My invention therefore comprises a filament treating machine in which hydrocarbon vapor for the treating is drawn from a supply reservoir distant from the machine; it also comprises a treating machine in which a uniform charge of vapor is admitted to the treating receptacle each time; it also comprises a treating machine in which these charges are obtained by filling a measure of definite size and using the vap'or thus measured out in the treating receptacle; it also comprises a treating machine having valves arranged to connect a measure or doser with a source of fluid supply and with a treating receptacle alternately; it also comprises .a machine having one or more receptacles in which filaments are treated, and automatically-operated valies for connectingthe receptacles to and disconnecting them from an air pump; a treating machine havin automatic valves for connecting the treating receptacles with and disconnecting them from a source of fluid supply; a treating machine having automatic switches for cutting the filaments into and out of circuit.

The invention further comprises other novel features which will be described more in detail hereinafter and which will be definitely indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the operating mechanism of the machine; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, broken away in art; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the seat 0 one of the valves; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the movable member of that valve; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of the seat and movable member of the second valve; Fig. 7 v

is a detail view of the operating gears; Fig. 8 is a detail View of the circuit-closer; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections established by the valves between the treating bottles andthe various other parts; and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical connections.

The machine consists of a table on which are mounted the treating bottles, switches and other parts which must be accessible to the operator. In the top 5 of the table are a number of openings in each of which is located one of the treatin bottles 1, 2, 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 9. the drawings four of these treating bottles are shown and that is the number which I prefer to use, but it must be understood that a greater or less number may be used instead. Each of the bottles is air-tight, exc'ept for an opening in the bottom into which a pipe is fitted and an opening in the top which is arranged to be closed by a cap 6 carrying on its under side a pair of metallic clips'7, 7 which hold the filament while it is undergoing treatment and by which the filament is connected in circuit. The clips 7, 7 connect through the cap with two metallic strips 8, 8 insulated from each other and adapted to make contact when the cap is placed in position with two other strips 9, 9 provided with binding-posts as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10.

Beneath the treating bottles is mounted the operating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. This consists'of a shaft 10 mounted in bearings 11, 11 on a suitable base and carrying a member. 12' having an opening therein parallel to its axis, in which a spring-pressed pin 13 having a head 14 is adapted to slide. Loosely mounted on the shaft 10 is a sleeve 15 carrying a wheel 16 close to member 12 on shaft 10 and a gear 17 and driven continuousl source of power by a c ain runnin on the gear 17. The wheel 16 is provide with a number of openings in the side adjacent member 12 into one of which the end of pin 13 is adapted to slide to lock member 12 in engagement with wheel 16 and cause shaft 10 to rotate with sleeve 15. Mounted in proximity to these parts is an electromagnet 18 having an armature 19 carried by an from any suitable arm 20 rigidly secured to a shaft 21 mounted in suitable bearings. .Rigidly secured to shaft 21 is a finger 22 which extends into engagement with the head 14 of the clutch pin 13 and governs the engagement of pin 13 with wheel 16. For this purpose finger 22 isprovided with an inclined side on which the head 14 of the clutch pin rides and by which the pin is drawn from engagement with wheel 16 against the tension of its spring. Armature 19 is retracted by a spring 23 having one end secured eccentricallyto shaft 21 and the other end secured to the base at any convenient point. Rigidly mounted on shaft 21 is an arm 24 having a screw 25 in its outer end adapt-ed to abut against the bearing 11 or any other stationary part of the device to limit the movement of shaft 21 and the parts carried thereby when retracted by spring 23 and to rena shaft 30, the two wheels forming a gear of the Geneva type, the arrangement being such that wheel 29 makes .one quarter of a revolution for each full revolution of wheel 28 in two steps of one-eighthof a revolution each, between which steps gear 29 is locked against movement. Thus when ma et 18 is energized armature 19 is attracte shaft 21 rocked, and the end of finger 22 raised until the head 14 of the clutch pin is freed. Clutch pin 13 is then pressed forward by its spring until the end of the pin extends into one of the openings in wheel 16, locking members 12 and 16 together so that shaft turns with sleeve in a direction to cause the head 14 of the clutch pin to move away from shaft 21. If the circuit through magnet 18 is immediately broken, the free end of finger 22 drops to its original position and when shaft 10 has made almost a complete revolution the head 14 of the pin abuts against and rides upt-he incline on the side of finger 22, withdrawing pin from engagement with wheel 16 and bringing shaft 10 to rest when it has made one complete revolution. During this movement shaft-30 and the parts carried thereby make onequarter of a; revolution in two steps of oneeighth of a revolution each, the shaft being locked against movement after each step. Gear 28 is so positioned on shaft 10 that when the head 14 of the clutch pin is held by finger 22, one of the teeth of the gearwheel is close to the position in which it engages the teeth of gear 29.

The shaft 30 is mounted in bearings 31 31 and carries the movable member 32 of a circuit-closer and the movable members 33 and 34 of two disk valves. The circuit-closer 1s a contact 32 carried by an arm secured to shaft 30 and adapted to bridge one of four pairs of contacts 35, 36, 37 and 38 secured to a standard 39 and symmetrically dlsposed about its center as shown in Fig. 8, the standard being mounted on the base perpendicular to shaft 30 with the shaft extendingthrough a central opening therein. The, arm carrying the contact 32 is so positioned on shaft 30 that when the shaft comes to rest after each quarter of a revolution, contact 32 is bridging one of the pairs of stationary contacts.

On one end, the shaft 30 carries themovable member 33, shown in Fig. 4, of one of the two disk valves which govern the admission of air and vapor to and its exhaustion from the treating bottles and the charging of the doser. The disk 33 cooperates with a valve seat 40, shown in Fig.-

3, mounted on the base, the two abutting surfaces being accurately finished to prevent leakage. At the other end of shaft 30 is a similar arrangement of parts constituting the. second valve, the movable 1r. ember 34, shown in Fig. 6, being mounted on the end ofshaft 30 and cooperating with theseat 41, shown in Fig. 5, mounted on the base. Each of the valve seats 40 and 41 is provided with four ports symmetrically disposed about its center as indicated at 42, 43, 44 and 45 on seat 40, and 46, 47, 48 and 49 onseat 41'. Connectedto the four ports of seat 40 are four pipes which lead outward and then upward and are connected each to the end of one of the pipes 50, 51, 52 and 53 which extend along under the treating bottles 1, 2,3 and-.4 and are connected each to one of the bottles by a pipe entering the bottom of the bottle. Connected to the four ports of valve seat 41 are four similar pipes which connect with the other ends of pipes 50, 51, 52 and 53 as shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 9. In the preferred form of the invention, two pumps are used for exhausting the treating bottles, one for rough, preliminary exhaustion and the other for perfecting the vacuum. Each of the valve-seats 40 and 41 has a central port 54 and 55 respectively to which pipes 56 and 57 respectively are connected, the former connecting the fine pump 58 to the central port' 54 of the first valve and the latter connecting the rough pump 59 to the central port 55 of the second valve. The valve seat 40 is also provided with four ports 60, 61, 62 and 63 equi-distant from the center and lying adjacent to the ports 42', 43, 44 and 45 as shown. From these four ports pipes lead to a common connection from which a pipe 64 leads to the doser 65, a vessel of sufiicient size to hold a single charge of vapor for one of the treating bottles and located in any convenient position under the operating table. The seat 40 is also provided with a port 66 farther from the center than the other ports, from which a pipe 67 leads to a tank 68 distant from the machine in which the hydrocarbon vapor is maintained at a constant pressure. Extending up through the base to the bottom of valve seat 40 is a steam pipe 98 by which the valve seat is kept hot to.

prevent condensation of the vapor. The valve seat 41 is provided with a port 69 at a greater distance from the center than ports 46, 47 48, 49, to which is connected a pipe 70 open at its other end and serving as an air connection for the treating bottles.

The movable member 33 of the first valve is provided with a passageway 71 adapted to cross-connect thecentral port 54 leading to the fine pump with one of the ports 42, 43, 44, 45 leading to the treating bottles. This passageway is sector-shaped and is so positioned that when shaft 30 and the movable member make one quarter of a revolution in two steps, connection with one of the ports is broken and connection established 62, 63 leading to it connects with the doser thetreating bottle which has just been disconnected from the fine pump at the end of the first step of the quarter revolution and maintains this connection only during the pause between the two steps. The movable member is also provided with an annular passageway 73 cooperating with the port 66 leading to the vapor supply tank in all positions of the movable member. Passageway 73 is provided with a smallofiset passageway 74 which, with the passageway 73, cross-connects one of the ports 60, 61, 62, 63 leading to the doser with port 66 and the vapor supply tank at the end of each quarter revolution. The movable member 34 of the second valve is provided with a passageway 75. adapted to cross-connect the central port 55 leading to the rough pump with one of the ports 46, 47, 48, 49 leading to the treating bottles. This passageway is also sectorshaped and is so positioned that in each quarter revolution connection is broken with one of the ports and connection established with the next port at the beginning of the first step, which connection is maintained during the second step and the pause at the end of the movement. M'ovable member 34 is also provided with an annular passageway 76, cotiperating with the port 69 of the air pipe in all positions of the movable member. Passageway 76 is provided with a wide offset passageway 77 adapted to cross-connect the port of the series 46, 47, 48, 49 in advance of the one connected to the rough pump with passageway 76, port 69 and air pipe 70 at the end of the first step of the quarter revolution and maintain this connection during the second step and the pause at the end of the movement. The movable members 38 and 34 are so positioned on shaft 30 relatively to one another that member 34 of the second valve connects with the rough pump the bottle in advance of the one connected to the fine pump by member 33 of the first, valve and the same movement which disconnects the rough pumn from a bottle connects the fine pump to that bottle.

The successive connections established by the valves can be best understood by reference to Fig. 9, which shows the various parts, except the electrical connections, diagrammatically, with the movable members of the valves in the position they occupy during the pause following one of the quarter revolutions, the arrows indicating the direction of movement of the movable members 33 and 34. In this position, bottle 1 is open to the air through pipe 53, port 49, passages 77 and 76, port 69 and pipe 70, and the operator may withdraw cap 6, remove the treated filament, insert a filament to be treated in the clips 7 7 and return cap 6 to the closed position; bottle 2 has been evacuated and charged with a dose of hydrocarbon vapor and the filament connected in circuit, so the pipe 52 connected to this bottle is closed at the valves; bottle 3 is connected to the fine pump 58 through pipe 51, port 43, passage 74, port 54 and pipe 56, the outer end of pipe 51 being closed at port 47; bottle 4 is connected to the rough pump 59 through pipe 50, port 46, passage 75, port 55 and pipe 57, the other end of pipe 50 being closed; the doser 65 is connected to the vapor supply tank 68 by pipe 64, port 60, passages 74 and 73, port 66 and pipe 67. As above described the movement of the movable members of the valve is a quarter of a revolution each time in two steps of one-eighth of a revolution each in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 9. The first step of this movement makes the following changes: The doser 65 is disconnected from the vapor supply tank by passage 74 leaving port bottle 1 is disconnected from the air ipe 70 by passage 77 leaving port 49, and it is now connected to the rough pump by passage 75 connecting ports 49 and 55; bottle 2, now containing a treated filament, disconnected from the circuit, is opened to the air by passages 77 and 76 connecting ports 48 and 69; bottle 3 is now disconnected from the fine pump by passage 71 leaving port 43, and during the pause between the two steps it is connected to the doser by the passage 72 connecting ports 43 and 61 and the vacuum in bottle 3 draws a charge of vapor from the doser, leaving the latter with a vacuum; bottle 4 is disconnected from the rough pump by passage 75 leaving the port 46 and is connected to the fine pump by passage 71 connecting ports 44 and 54. The second step of this movement disconnects bottle 3 from the doser, passage 72 being carried away from ports 43 and 61 and, as the bottle has been exhausted and charged with vapor, the filament therein is ready for treatment. This second step also brings passage 74 over port 61, again connecting the doser with the vapor supply tank 68, and the vacuum in the doser helps to recharge it with vapor. The connections between hottles 4, 1 and 2 and the fine pump, the rough pump and the air respectively are not changed by the second step, as the passages 71, 75 and 77 are made wide enough to allow for this movement. The next movement of the valve connects bottle 1 with the fine pump, bottle 2 with the rough pump, bottle 3 with the air and bottle 4 with the doser during the pause between the two steps of the movement. At the end of the movement, the pipe leading to bottle 4 is closed at the valve, the filament in the bottle is undergoing treatment and the doser is again connected to the vapor supply tank. The next movement connects bottle 1 with the doser during the pause between the two steps of the movement and then closes the'pipe leading to this bottle at both of-the valves; it

also connects bottle 2 to- .the fine pump, bottle 3 to the rough pump and bottle4 to the air and, at the end of the movement, connects the doser; to the vapor supply tank.

By the next movement the parts are brought back'again to the positionshown'in Fig. '9,

with bottle 1 connected to the air, bottle- :2.

to the doser during the pause between the two steps and closed at the -valves at the], end of the movement while the filament 1sbeing treated, bottle 3 to the fine pump, bottle 4 to the rough pump and-the doser to the supply tank. Itwill thus be seen that" single movement, during which it is charged wit-h a dose of hydrocarbon vapor, is then cut ofl fromthe doser bythesecond step and remains cut off during the pause at the end of the movement while the filament is being treated, and is lastly opened to the air so that the treated filament may be re- I moved and another inserted in its 'placeand that at the end of each movement the doser is connected to the vapor supply tank. This cycle of operations is in progress on allthev bottles simultaneously, each bottle being one step in the cycle in advance of the bottle'next to itand the end bottle being one step in advance of the first one. The movement of the valves operates to transfer the rough pump each time to the next bottle whichwas previously open to the air, to transfer the fine pump to the next bottle previously connected to the rough pump, to connect the doser to the next bottle, that bottle having been exhausted bythe fine pump, and then disconnect it to allow treating of-the filament, to transfer the open air connection to the next bottle, that bottle now containing a treated filament, and to connect the doser to the vapor supply tank after it has'given up its charge to one of thebottles andbeen disconnected from that bottle. Thus, at the end of each full movement of the valves, one of the bottles with a filament to be treated held in its clips is disconnected from the pumps and vapor supply after having been exhausted of air and charged with a dose of hydrocarbon vapor. At the end of the movement this filament is connected in circuit by the circuit-closer and thetreatment begins, continuing until the resistance of the filament is made uniform throughout and the resistance decreased to the desired point whent-he circuit through the filament is automatically broken as will now be explained.

Referring to Fig. 10 of the drawings, 78, 79

v of single phasealternating and 80 representtthree ,mains from a source from which two currents o tial can bejderived simultaneously, main 79 being of lower" otential than main 78' and main 80 being t 6 negative return'common to the other two mains. From main 78a 'wireleads to the two coils 81 and 82 of a difierential relay and'from coil 8'1 a wire leads to a variable resistance 83 and back "to main 7 9. From the other coil 82, of the r elaym wire leads to one-of the contacts 84 electric energy different potenof the automatic circuit-breaker 91, the other contfl'ctof which is connected through an ammeter .85 and variable resistance 86 'to one side of-each of the filaments in the bot tles 1, 2, 3 and 4 throughoneof the metallic strips-9 and 8 and one of the clips 7. On the other side, each filament is connected through its other clip 7 and metallic strips 8 and 9 to one contact of'the pairs 35, 36,

37 and 38 adapted to be cross-connected bv push-button switch 89 on the table, then through the coils of the electromagnet 18,

returningto the other mainthrough an indicator lamp 90. Thus the operator by pressing push-button 89 energizes magnets 18, releasing the operating mechanism and allowing shaft 10 to make one revolution and shaft 30 one quarter of a revolution. 1

Mounted on the table is a double pole, spring-retracted switch 91 adapted to bridge contacts 84 with one pole and another pair of contacts 92' with the other and extending over the switch-blade is an arm 93 carried by the rod 27 which is pivoted eccentrically to shaft 10. Thus when shaft 10 makes one revolution, arm- 93 throwsswitch 91 to the closed position where it is held by the spring-actuated latch 94:. The circuit '32 is moved away from the pair of contacts which it has been bridging. After switch 91 has been closed by arm 93 the second tooth 'of wheel 28 actuates' wheel 29 and -through one of the filaments however is not contact 32 is carried to the position in which it bridges the nextpair of contacts, and

the connections are so arranged that this cuts into circuit the filament in the bottle which has just received a dose of vapor. The armature 95 of the differential relay carries a bridge piece adapted to cross-connect two contacts 96, completing a circuit from main 88 to one of the contacts 92 from the other of which a wire leads to the coil of an electromagnet 97 mounted in cooperative relation to the latch 94; of circuit-breaker 91 and back to main 87. When the variable resistances 83 and 86 have been properly adjusted and circuit through one of the filaments is closed at the contacts 8 1 'and one of the pairs of contacts 35, 36, 37,

38, the flow of current through the filament will be comparatively small on account of its high resistance. This however does not affect the flow of current through the circuit of coil 81 of the relay which remains constant throughout'the changes-in the resistance of the filament. Therefore when circuit is first completed through the. filament, coil 81 of the relay will exert a stronger. force on armature 95 than coil 82 and the armature will be held in the raised position. As the resistance of the filament decreases, owing to the deposition of carbon thereon, the current through the filament and through coil 82 of the relay in series therewith increases until, when the desired resistance is obtained, coil 82 balances coil 81. When this occurs, armature 95 drops by gravity, closing circuit through magnet 97, the contacts 92 being bridged by switch 91, and the magnet attracts its armature. the latch 94. This releases switch 91 which is'thrown to the open position by its spring opening the circuit through coil 82 and the treated filament and the circuit through magnet 97. Coil 81 remainingin circuit again attracts armature 95, putting the parts in readiness for the treatment of the next filament.

In starting the machine, the pumps are started and the operator presses push-button 89 and operates the mechanism several times without putting filaments into the bottles to get the bottles in proper condition for operation. After each pressure of the button one bottle is open to the air, one charged with a dose of vapor and closed at the valves, one connected to the fine pump and one connected to the rough pump and the doser after delivering its charge of vapor to the bottle is connected to the supply tank. The operator then inserts a filament in the clips of the bottle which is open to the air, places the cap in the clo ed position and presses push-button 89. This energizes magnet 18 which attracts its armature and raises finger 22, thus releasing clutch-pin 13 and allowing shaft 10 to make one revolution and shaft 30, the circuit-closer and the movable valve-members one quarter of a revolution. Supposing the new filament was putin bottle 1. the action of the valves, as above explained, connects bottle 1 to the rough pump, bottle 2 to the air, charges bottle 3 with a dose of vapor and disconnects it, connects bottle 4 to the fine pump and the doser to the supply tank. The operator then puts a filament in the clips of bottle 2, closes it .bottle 3 to the air, charges bottle 4 with vapor and then disconnects it and connects the doser to the supply tank. The operator then putsla filament in bottle 3 and again presses button 89, connecting bottle 1 to the doser, by the first step of the valve movement, from which it receives its charge of hydrocarbon vapor and disconnecting it at the valves by the second movement. This movement of the valves also connects bottle 2 to the fine pump, bottle 3 to the.rough pump, bottle 1 to the air and the doser to the supply tank. Shaft-10 in making the revolution which causes this operation of the valves draws rod 27 down, closing switch 91, and shaft 30 in making one quarter of a revolution moves contact 32 to the position in which, at the end of the movement, it bridges contacts 35. This closes a circuit from main 78 through coil 82, contacts 84, ammeter 85, rheostat 86, the filament in bottle 1, contacts 35 to main 80, and the filament is heated by the current passing through it thus precipitating carbon upon itself and increasing its current carrying capacity. The demagnetizing force exerted on armature 95 by coil 82 increases with the increase in the flow of current through the filament undergoing treatment, coil 82 being in series therewith, until it balances coil 81 thus allowing armature 95 to drop by gravity. This bridges contacts 96, closing circuit through magnet 97 which attracts the latch 94 of switch 91, allowing the switch to be opened by its spring. Coil 81 which is in circuit throughout the operation of the machine immediately draws armature 95 up, leaving all parts of the machine in readiness for a repetition of the operation. While this is taking place, the operator puts a filament in bottle 4, andcloses the bottle. He then presses push-button 89, connecting bottle 1, which now contains a treated filament, with the air, charging bottle 2 with a dose of vapor, closing it at the valves and connecting the filament therein in circuit and connecting bottle 3 to the fine pump, bottle 4 to the rough pump and the doser to the supply tank. The operator can then take the treated filament from bottle 1 and insert a new onein its place. The operation of the machine is continued in this manner, a filament being treated at each pressure of the push-button.

It will thus be seen that each of the parts is in action all the time and that in all four bottles some one operation is being conducted. and that the machine is automatic throughout, the only duties of the operator being to remove the treated filaments, put filaments to be treated in their places and kept busy continually, as the time required- .for treating is no longer than that required to take out the treated filament and replace it with a new one and is in little orno danger as only a single charge of vapor is in the machine at any time in its operation and little of this escapesinto the-room, the vap'ofsupply tank being preferably located outside of the building and amply protected;

It must be understood that the invenq is in no'way limited to the machine show in the drawings, as many changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The doser can be dispensed with by connecting the'bottles directly with the vapor supply tank through an opening 1 of such size that theexact charge of vapor desired will pass into the bottles during the time between the opening andclosing of the valves, In practice, however, I have found it preferable touse the doser as a measure for the charges of vapor as it conduces toward greater uniformity in the size of the dose. Nor is it essential to use two pumps for exhausting the treating bottles, asa single pump of arger capacity will be found sufiicient. In this latter case one of the bottles could be readily dispensed with and in either case .a single valve .could be employed instead of two as shown. Other changes in the parts would adapt themachine for operation with any number of bottles greater orless than that shown in the drawings. However, these changes and others which can be made are all considered.

within the scope of my inventiomwhich is not confined to treating machines for filaments but embraces any machine in which a series of receptacles or bulbs are exhausted in sequence through automatic changes in the connections between the receptacles and the'pump or pumps.

ing a receptacle in which the filament is treated, a source of supply of fluid for the treatment, and automatic means for delivering to the receptacle a predetermined charge of fluid from the source of supply.

ceptacle.

4. a filament main machiaecom s ing a receptacle in .Which 'the filament is treated, a tank containin I hydrocarbon vae por for the treatment, an automatic means permitting the flow of a predetermined amount of vaporfrom the tank to the re-.

5;A'filament treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles in which filaments are treated, a source of supply of fluid 1 for the treatment, and automatic means for charging the receptacles successively with uniform quantities of fluid from the source i of supplfy'.

6. A lament'treating machine comprising a receptacle, means for supporting a filament therein, means for establishin electrical-connection. with' a filament w ile in the receptacle, a source of supply of fluid distant from the receptacle, automatic means permittingthe passageof a definite amount of fiuid from said source to the receptacle,

and means for closing circuit to said-electrical connecting means.

7. Atreating-machine comprising a receptacle, a source of supply of hydrocarbon distant from the receptacle, and automatic means for delivering to the receptacle uniform charges of hydrocarbon from the source of supply.

8. A treating machine comprising a receptacle, a source of fluid supply distant from the machine, means for exhausting the receptacle, and automatic means for admitting a definite amount of-fluidto the receptacle from. said'dist'ant source. 9. A filament treat-ing machine comprising a receptacle in which the filament is treated, means for establishing electrical connection-with a filament while in the receptacle, automatic means for supplying hydrocarbon to said receptacle, and means whereby circuit to said connecting means is closed after cutting off the supply ofhydrocarbon. 7

10. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle: in which the filament is treated, means for establishing electrical connection with a filament while in the receptacle, a source of supply of hydrocarbon distant from the machine,-means permitting the supply of hydrocarbon to the receptacle from said source, and. means whereby cutting off the supply closes circuit to said connecting means.

- l1. A treating machine comprising a receptacle, a source of supply of fluid, a connection between the source of'supply and receptacle, a valve in said connection, and automatic means for holding the valve in the open position for uniform periods.

12. A filament treatingmachine comprising a receptacle in which the filament is treated, means for supplying fluid at constant pressure, a vessel of definite size for measuring the fluid for the treatment, and means for connecting said vessel with the receptacle.

13. A treating machine com ceptacle, a source of supply of uid, a measure, means for automatically connecting the measure with the source of supply, and means for automatically connecting the receptacle with the measure.

14. A filament treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles in which filaments are treated, a. source of supply of fluid for the treatment, a measure, and means for connecting the measure alternately with the source of supply and one of the receptacles.

15. A treating machine comprising a plurality of treating receptacles, a source of fluid supply, a measure, and means for connecting the measure alternately with the source of supply and with successive treating receptacles.

16. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle in which the filament is treated, a source of fluid supply distant from the receptacle, a measure, and means for automatically connecting the measure with the source of supply and with the receptacle.

17. A filament treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles in which filaments are treated, a source of fluid supply distant from the receptacles, a measure, and means for connecting the measure alternately with the source of supply and successive receptacles.

18. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle in which the filament is treated, a source of supply of fluid for the treatment, a measure, and means for automatically connecting the measure with the source of supply and with the receptacle.

19. A filament treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles in which filaments are treated, a source of supply of fluid for the treatment, a measure, and means for automatically connecting the measure alternately with the source of fluid supply and successive receptacles.

20. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle, means for holding a filament therein, automatic means for delivering to the receptacle a predetermined charge of a fluid, and means for closing circuit through the filament.

21. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle, means for holding a filament therein, automatic means for charging the receptacle with a predetermined quantity of a fluid, and means for automatically closing circuit through the filament.- I

22. A filament treating machine comprising a receptacle, means for holding a fila-' ment therein, a source of fluid supply distant from the receptacle, automatic means for delivering uniform charges of fluid to rising a re:

mined quantity of fluid from said source,

and means for automatically cuit through the filament.

24. A filament treating machine having a plurality of receptacles, means for holding a filament in each receptacle, automatic means for admitting hydrocarbon to each rece tacle, and means for automatically closing circuit through the several filaments successively.

25. A filament treating machine having a plurality of receptacles, means for holding a filament in each receptacle, automatic means for admitting a fluid to the recep tacles, and means for automatically closing circuit through the several filaments successively.

26. A filament treating machine having a plurality of receptacles, means for holding a filament in each receptacle, means for admitting a fluid to the several receptacles successively, and means for automatically closing circuit through the several filaments successively.

27. A filament treating machine having a plurality of receptacles, means for holding a filament in each receptacle, means for charging each receptacle with a uniform quantity of a fluid, and means for automatically closing circuit through the several filaments successively.

28. A filament treating machine having a receptacle, means for holding "a filament therein, a source of fluid supply, a measure, means -for connecting the measure with the source of fluid supply and the receptacle, and an automatic circuit-closer for closing circuit through the filament.

29. A treating machine having a treating receptacle, a pump, and means for automatically and periodically connecting the pump with the receptacle.

30. A treating machine having a plurality of treating receptacles, a pump, and means for automatically connecting the pump with the several receptacles successively.

31. A treating machine comprising a treating receptacle, a plurality of pumps, and means for automatically and periodically connecting the pumps with the receptacle successively.

32. A treating machine comprising a plurality of treating receptacles, a plurality of pumps, and means for automatically connecting the pumps to the several receptacles successively, each pump being connected closing cirdisconnected therefrom.

. 33. A treating machine comprising a treating receptacle, a pump, a source of fluid supply, automatic means for periodically connecting the pump with the receptacle, and means for automatically disconnecting the pump'from and connecting the source of fluid supply to the receptacle.

34. A treating machine comprising a treating receptacle, a plurality of pumps, a source of fluid supply, and means for automatically and periodically connecting each of the several pumps and the source of fluid supply to the receptacle successively.

35.'A treatin machine comprising a-plurality of treatlng receptacles, a pump, a source of fluid supply, and means for automatically connecting the pump and source of fluid supply to the receptacles successively, the source of fluid supply being connected to each receptacle after the pump has been disconnected from it.

36. A treating machine having a receptacle, a pump, a source of fluid supply, automatic means for connecting the pump to the receptacle and disconnecting it therefrom, and means for charging the receptacle with a predetermined quantity of fluid from the source of supply.

37 A treating machine comprising a receptacle, a tank containing the fluid for the treatment, a measure for the fluid, means for connectin the measure with the tank, means for ex austing the receptacle, and means for disconnecting the measure from the tank and connecting it to the receptacle, whereby vthe vacuum therein draws the charge of fluid into the receptacle.

38. A treating machine comprislng a receptacle, a pump, a tank, a measure, means for connecting the measure with the tank and the pump with the receptacle, and means for disconnecting the pump from the receptacle and connecting the measure to the receptacle.

39. A filament treating machine comprlsing a treating receptacle, means for holding a filament therein, a source of fluid supply,-

a pump, and automatic means for successively connecting the receptacle to the pump, disconnecting it therefrom, connecting. it to the source of fluid supply, disconnecting it therefrom, and closing clrcuit through the filament in the receptacle.

4.0. In a treating machine, a receptacle, means for supporting a filament therein, means for exhausting the same, and means for automatically placing the receptacle in communication with the air.

41. In a treating machine, a plurality of receptacles, means for supporting a filament in each receptacle, means for exhausting the receptacles successively, and automatic means for placing the receptacles in com munication with the air successively.

42. In a treating machine, a receptacle,

causes the last operation to be means for supporting a filament therein, and means for successively exhaustlng the tomatlcally opening it to the air.

43. In a filament treating machine, a receptacle', means for holding a filament therein, automatic means for establishing electrical connection with a filament while held therein, and means controlled by the resistance of the filament for automatically opening a circuit to said connectin means.

44. A filament treating mac ine having a receptacle in which the filament is held in a hydrocarbon vapor, means for automatically closing a circuit through the filament at predetermined intervals, and additional means whereby the circuit is automatically opened when the resistance of the filament reaches a predetermined value. v

45. A filament treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles in which filaments are treated, a vessel containing hydrocarbon for the treatment, and means for automatically establishing a connection be tween said vessel and successive receptacles.

46. A filament treating machine having a plurality of treating receptacles, means for holding a filament in each receptacle, means for carrying 'forward a succession of operatlons in each receptacle by which the filament therein is treated, and means whereby starting the operation in one. receptacle performed in another receptacle.

47. A filament treating machine having a plurality of treating receptacles, means for holding a filament in each, and means for carrying forward a succession of operations in each receptacle to treat the filament therein, so arranged that the several receptacles are maintained at different stages of the cycle of operations.

48. A treating machine comprising a receptacle, a source of hydrocarbon vapor supply, a connection between the sourceof supply and receptacle, a valve in said connection, and means for heating the valve.

49. In a treating machine, a receptacle, a source of hydrocarbon supply, a connection between said source and the receptacle, a

valve in said connection having movable and stationary members, a shaft carrying the movable valve member, means controlled by the operator for turning the shaft through a definite angle whereby the connection is opened or closed, and means for heating the valve.

50. A treating machine comprising a plurality of receptacles, a pump, a source of fluid supply, and means controlled by the operator for simultaneously connecting one receptacle to the pump, another to the source of fluid supply, and another to the air.

51. A filament treating machine having a receptacle, means for holding a filament K receptacle, charging it with a fluid and ausource of fluid supply, disconnecting it therefrom, closing circuit through the filament, opening the circuit, and opening the receptacle to the air.

52. In a treating machine, a receptacle, a valve having movable and stationary members, a shaft carrying the movable member, automatic means controlled by the operator for turning the shaft through a definite angle, and means whereby said movement opens or closes a connection to the receptacle.

53. A treating machine carrying a plurality of receptacles, a pump, a source of fluid supply, a valve having movable and stationary members, a shaft carrying the movable valve member, automatic means controlled by the operator for turning the shaft through a definite angle, and connections between the stationary valve member and the receptacles, the pump and the source of supply.

54. A treating machine comprising a plu rality of receptacles, a pump, a source of fluid supply, valves having movable and stationary members, a shaft carrying the movable valve members, automatic means controlled by the operator for turning the shaft through a definite angle, and connections between the stationary valve members and the receptacles, the pump, the source of supply and the air.

55. A treating machine comprising a receptacle, a measure therefor, and means for supplying treating fluid to said measure at constant pressure.

56. A filament treating machine comprising a plurality of filament receptacles, a measure therefor, and means for supplying treating fluid to said measure at constant pressure.

57. In a lamp machine. the combination with a receptacle and a plurality of de vices for varying the pressure within said receptacle, of automatic means for connecting said receptacle to said devices in succession.

58. In a lamp making machine the combination with a plurality of receptacles and a device for varying the pressure within said receptacles, of automatic means for successively connecting said receptacles to said device.

59. In a lamp machine the combination with a receptacle and two devices connected to said receptacle to produce different pressures therein, of means automatically actuated at predetermined intervals to vary the connections between said receptacle and said devices and thereby vary the pressure within said receptacle.

60. In a lamp machine, the combination with an exhaust pump, a connection whereby a. receptacle may be connected to said pump, a valve for automatically controlling connnunication between said connection and said pump comprising two relatively movable members having flat surfaces in engagement and cooperating ports in said sur faces, a port in one of said members being in communication with said connect-ion and another port in one of said members being in communication with said pump, and means for automatically moving said members intermittently and relatively to each other to connect and disconnect said pump and said connection for the receptacle.

(31. In a lamp machine, the combination with a plurality of exhaust pumps, a con nection whereby a receptacle may be connected to said pumps, and a valve for automatically controlling communication between said connection and said pumps comprising two flat relatively movable members in engagement with each other and having cooperating ports in their engaging faces, a port in one of said members being in communication with said connection and other ports in said member being in communication with said pumps, and means for moving said members relatively to each other to bring the ports in said members into and out of registery and thereby place said connection to the receptacle in communication with different pumps in diflerent relative positions of said members.

62. In a lamp making machine, the combination of an exhaust pump, a plurality of connections whereby receptacles may be connected to said pump, a valve for controlling communication between said connections and said pump comprising two relatively movable members having flat surfaces in engagement and cooperating ports in said engaging surface, a port in one of said members being connected to said pump and other ports in one of said members communicating with said connections, and driving mechanism for automatically moving said members relatively to each other to bring the ports in said members into and out of registry and thereby bring said pump into and out of communication with the connections to the receptacles one after the other.

63. In a lamp machine, the combination of a receptacle, a plurality of exhaust pumps, a controlling valve between said receptacle and said pumps comprising a fiat seat containing a port in communication with said receptacle and other ports in communication with said pumps, a flat valve member movably mounted on said seat and. provided with ports to register with the ports in said seat and thereby vary the connections of the receptacle to said pumps as said member is moved over said seat, and means for automatically moving said memher to bring its ports into and out of registry with the ports in the valve seat.

64. In a lamp machine, the combination with an exhaust pump, a plurality of connections whereby receptacles may be connected to said pump, a, controlling valve between said connections and said pumpcomprising members mounted to rotate relatively to each other about a common axis, said members having flat surfaces in engagement and'cooperating ports in saidsur: faces, a port in one of said members being in communication with said pump and other 1 ports in one of said members communicating with said connections, and actuating means for intermittently and automatically rotating said members relatively to each other to bring said ports in' said members into and out of registry to control the communication between said connections for the receptacles in said pump.

65. In a lamp machine, the combination with a plurality of exhaust, pumps, a plurality of connections whereby receptacles may be connected to said pumps, a valve for automatically controlling. communication between said connections and said. pumps comprising relatively movable .fiat members in engagement with each other and having aplurality of cooperating ports in their engagingesurfaces, ports in one of said members ing 1n communication with said pumps and other ports in one of said members being in communication with said connections, and actuating means for automatically moving said members into different relative positions and thereby bringing different ports into registry to vary the relation of the connections for the receptacles to said pumps. p

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day offlOctober, 1903.

Y 1 JOHN W. HOWELL. Witnesses:

JOHN E. MITCHELL, Jr.,' MONTGOMERY MAYNARD. 

